^^™, ^ • J 



IgV 1463 
.R78 
I Copy 1 




FROM 

NOVICE TO EXPERT. 



WITH TABLES FOR 



i MEMORIZING OPENPIGS, 



AN 



ELEMENTARY WORK 



CHECKER PLAYING 



PRICE 26 CEIN i S. 

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tip the clul. 




Glass CcV- 14 G 3 
Book -^,ia _ 



FROM 



NOVICE TO EXPERT, 



WITH TABIvES FOR 



Memorizing Openings, 



-AN- 



ELEMENTARY WORK 



'ON 



^'^' CHECKER PLAYING 



-by- 



Stephen E. ROOT, A. M., M. D. 



Entered accordina: to act of Congress in the year 1897, by Stephen E. Root, iu 
the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



r- 



PREFACE. 

There are hundreds of thousands of checker players 
scattered throughout the country, especially in the rural 
districts, some of whom play a very creditable game, 
but who do not know the number of a single square on 
the checker board, and who are utterly unable to re- 
play, or even read a single published game. 

I know of no work on checker playing, sufficiently 
elementary to take the novice at his first game and lead 
him intelligently, without w^aste of time, to a point 
where he can understand and emulate the work of 
experts. Without a knowledge of First Principles, it 
takes as much time and labor to become an indifferent 
player, as to become a skillful one with such knowl- 
edge. 

The homely saying of Josh Billings, that "It is better 
not to kno quite so much than to kno so menny things 
that aim so" is especially applicable to the game of 
checkers. 

The SciKNCB of any subject is a classification of all 
the facts known upon that subject. The Art is the 
skill acquired in applying those facts. A person may 
learn from books, how to make a mortice, tenon, gain or 
relish, and master all the facts necessary in order to 
frame a building and he has learned the Sciknck of 
framing but when, for the first time he takes the square, 
saw, auger or chisel, he becomes painfully conscious 
that he has not yet acquired the Art. 

This treatise does not propose to furnish the brains, 
nor to do the studying and practicing, which must be 
intelligently done by the player himself, in order to 
acquire the art. 



It proposes rather to teach the whole foundation work 
of the SciKNCK, and guard the novice against learning 
'*so nienny things that aint so." 

While confining itself to first principles, attention will 
be called later to such literature as will teach the 
student how to analyse play and arrange for himself a 
course of study which if he has the taste, ability, energy 
and perseverance, will enable him to acquire the Art of 
the expert player. 

Stephen E. Root, 

Rochester, N, H., May 1897, 



index: 

Standard boards and men. 
Players and timekeepers. 
Standard laws of the game. 
Numbering the squares. 
Recording the moves. 

Who shall have the black men and first play? 
Choice of possible first moves. 

Possible choice in second and in each subsequent 
move . 

Openings explained. 
The rationale of tabulation. 
Memorizing names of groups. 
Tables for memorizing openings. 
Trunk games and variations. 
Letters, signs and figures. 
Later studies and practice. 



FROM NOVICE TO EXPERT. 

STANDARD BOARDS AND MEN. 

Never tolerate a board which is cramped or inaccur- 
ate, nor one on which the dark squares are represented 
by dots, blotches or pencil marks. If you cannot afford 
to buy a standard board, you can at least procure, or 
construct one cheaply, of standard size and arrangement 
in which each square is sharply defined and properly, 
colored. 

Anderson's Standard lyaws require that a board shall 
be not less than 14 1-2 inches nor more than 16 inches 
across the squares, not including the margin. In the 
American Checker Player the size given is not less than 
14, nor more than 15 inches. 

Match games are usually played upon boards 15 or 16 
inches square, but 16 inch boards are rapidly taking 
the place of all others. 

The ''pieces'* called also "men" or "checkers" are 
required by Anderson's Standard Laws to be not less 
than I 1-8 nor more than i 1-4 inches across and by the 
American Checker Player to be not less than one inch 
nor more than i 1-8 inches across. In matches they are 
sometimes used i 3-8 inches across. A table or stand 
from 22 to 27 inches high is convenient to support the 
board. 

PLAYERS AND TIMEKEEPERS. 

In some match games there is but one timekeeper, 
and in some each player has a timekeeper, and a referee 
or umpire also is appointed. The record of the games 
is kept by a person selected for the purpose. Amateurs 
are apt to dispense with timekeepers and referees and to 
neglect to record their games. Thus all opportunity 
for review, re-study and improvement is lost. Each 
spectator should record the game for the sake of the 
practice and should play over each game, move by 
move, very carefully when alone, noting the weaker 
play and seeking for stronger moves. 



STANDARD I.AWS. 

Anderson's Standard Laws, are recognized as author- 
ity among checker players the world over. Some of 
them are a little ambiguous in wording but their signifi- 
cance is well understood among players. A copy is 
appended below. 

ANDKRSON'S vSTANDARD IvAWS. 

1. The standard board must be of light and dark 
squares, not less than fourteen and one half inches, nor 
more than sixteen inches across said squares. 

2. The board shall be placed so that the bottom 
corner square on the left hand shall be black. 

3. The standard men, technically described as black 
and white, must be light and dark (say, red and white, 
or black and white,) turned, and round, and not less 
than one and one- eighth inch, nor more than one and 
one-fourth inch in diameter. 

4. The men shall be placed on the black squares. 

5. The black men shall invariably be placed upon 
the real or supposed first twelve squares of the board; 
the white men upon the last twelve squares. 

6. Each player shall pla}^ alternately with black 
and white men, and lots shall be cast for the color, once 
only, viz., at the commencement of a match, the winner 
to have the choice of taking either black or white. 

7. The first move must invariably be made by the 
person having the black men. 

8. At the end of five minutes (if the move has not 
been previously made) "time" must be called in a dis- 
tiijict manner by the person appointed for the purpose; 
and if the move be not completed on the expiry of 
another minute, the game shall be adjudged as lost 
through improper delay. 

9. When there is only one way of taking one or 
more pieces, ''time" shall be called at the end of one 



minute; and if the move be not completed on the expiry 
of another minute, the game shall be adjudged as lost 
through improper delay. 

10. Either player is entitled, on giving information, 
to arrange his own or his opponent's pieces properly on 
the squares. After the move has been made, however, 
if either player touch or arrange any piece without giv- 
ing intimation to his opponent,, he shall be cautioned 
for the first offense, and shall forfeit the game for any 
subsequent act of the kind. 

11. After the pieces have been arranged, if the per- 
son whose turn it is to play touch one, he must either 
play it or forfeit the game. When the piece is not play- 
able, he is penalized according to the preceding law. 

12. If any part of a playable piece be played over an 
angle of the square on which it is stationed, the play 
must be completed in that direction. 

13. A capturing play, as well as an ordinary one, is 
completed whenever the hand is withdrawn from the 
piece played, even although two or more pieces should 
have been taken. 

14. When taking, if a player remove one of his 
pieces, he cannot replace it; but his opponent can either 
play or insist on his replacing it. 

15. Either player making a false or improper move 
shall instantly forfeit the game to his opponent, without 
another move being made. 

16. The ''huff" or ''blow" is (before one plays his 
own piece) to remove from the board any one of the 
adverse pieces that might or should have been taken. 
But the huff or blow never constitutes a pla3^ 

17. The player has either the power to huff, compel 
the take, or to let the piece remain on the board, as he 
thinks proper. 

18. When a man first reaches any of the squares on 
the opposite extreme line of the board, it becomes a 
king, and can be moved backwards and forwards as the 



8 



limits of the board permit (though not in the same play,) 
and must be crowned (by placing a man on the top 
of it) by the opponent; if he neglect to do so and play, 
any play shall be put back until the man be crowned. 

19. A draw is when neither of the players can force 
a win. When one of the sides appkars stronger than 
the other, the stronger party is required to complete 
the win, or to show to the satisfaction of the umpire or 
referee at least a dkcidbd advantage over his oppo- 
nent, within forty of his own moves — to be counted from 
the point at which notice was given — failing in which, 
he must relinquish the game as a draw. 

20. Anything which may tend either to annoy or 
distract the attention of the player is strictly forbidden — 
such as making signs or sounds, pointing or hovering 
over the board, unnecessarily delaying to move a piece 
touched, or smoking. Any principal so acting, after 
having been warned of the consequence and requested 
to desist, shall forfeit the game. 

21. While a game is pending, neither player is per- 
mitted to leave the room without a sufficient reason, or 
receiving the other's consent or company. 

22. Any spectator giving warning, either by sign, 
sound, or remark, on any of the games, whether played 
or pending, shall be ordered from the room during the 
match, and pla}^ will be discontinued until such offending 
person retires. 

23. A match between equals, wins and draws to 
count, should consist of an even number of games, so 
that each player may have the first move the same num- 
ber of times. 

24. Either player committing a breach of any of 
these laws must submit to the penalty, and his opponent 
is equally bound to exact the same. 

25. Should any dispute occur, not satisfactorily 
determined by the the preceding laws, a written state- 
ment of the facts must be sent to a disinterested arbiter, 



liaving a knowledge of the game, wliose decision shafl 
•be final. The above is a verbatim t>opy of Anderson's 
Standard Laws. 

REMARKS, 

It will be noticed that the sev:erest penalties are 
visited for carelessness and inatt^tion. 

Law 13. The liand must be kept over the board till 
the play is completed. The hand cannot be put back to 
take off captured pieces after it is once withdrawn. 
'The pieces must remain on the board. The capture is 
forfeited by carelessness. 

Law 16, If a player does not '^jump^' when he can, 
he forfeits the piece with which he might have 
"'jumped" at his opponent's discretion. 

Law 18. A piece cannot be jumped into the king row 
as a man, and out again as a king. If already crowned 
it can do so*. 

Law 19. The notice of forty moves, does not apply 
to two kings against three, nor three kings against four* 

Amateurs will find the interest of the game very much 
increased by carrying out these laws. 

HOW TO NUMBER THE SQUARES. 

Only the dark squares are numbered. There are 
eight rows of four squares each, making thirty-two dark 
squares in all. The thirty-two numbers are divided 
into eight sections of four numbers each, to correspond 
with the eight rows of squares. The first section of 
numbers 1,2,3 ^^^ 4^ ^^^ applied to the first king row, 
and the second section, 5, 6, 7 and 8, are applied to the 
first row parellel to the first king row, and so on to all 
the eight rows, each section and row being numbered 
consecutively from right to left. 

The following diagram shows the board properly 
numbered. 



^30fl29- 



lO 

28B2 7H2 6H25f 
H24H2p22B2r 

2oB'9Bi8ai7;^ 



12 






N3. 



II 
3 



lOi 



■ M 



— — 2 ■ I "^ 



Notice: — In tlie diagrams the colors are reversed so> 
that the white or vacant squares may be utilized for set- 
ting up the numbers or pieces. 

Figures may be cut from the paging of an old book or 
calendar and pasted on the squares till the numbers are 
known by heart, and then removed. The first side is- 
the side of the board whose king row is numbered 1,2, 
3 and 4, from right to left, and the second side is that in 
which the king row is numbered 32, 31, 30 and 29 from 
right to left. If the numbers are pasted on the squares 
then the board must be turned side for side after each 
game, to give the first side to each player alternately. 
The player must learn to distinguish the number of the 
squares as readily from the second side as from the first 
side, and he will soon learn to do it unconsciously. 

The black pieces are invariably placed on the squares 
from I to 12, and the white pieces are placed on the 
squares from 21 to 32, inclusive. The diagram follow- 
ing shows the pieces properly arranged. 



II 



W/a 






» 



m 






20 



^ 



16 









^fc 



® 



RECORDING THK MOVES. 



m 

^ 



A move is recorded by writing the number of the 
square from which the piece is taken, and after it the 
number of the square on which the piece is placed. A. 
davSh is usually placed between the two numbers. 
Thus; II — ^15 indicates that the piece was taken from 
square 11 and placed upon square 15, and 25—18 indi- 
cates that the piece was taken from square 25 and 
placed on square 18, capturing and removing the man 
on square 22. 

WHO SHAI.I. HAVE THE BI^ACK MEN AND :^IRST PI.AY? 

Before the first play lots may be cast and the winner 
of the lot shall choose the color of the men with which 
he shall play. The person who has the black pieces in 
the first game shall also have the black pieces in the 
third, fifth, seventh and each odd game, and the person 
who has the white pieces in the first game, shall have 
the black pieces in the second, fourth, sixth, and in 
every even game. 

The first object is to win the game if possible. If it 
is impossible to win, the next object is to prevent your 
opponent from winning; that is to draw the game. 



12" 



CHOICE OF POSSIBT^B FIRST MOVES. 

For convenience the players may be called Mr. BlacS: 
and Mr. White, each after the color of his men. Being 
ready to play it must be remembered that each pla3^er 
has the double corner at his right hand, and that Black, 
has the first move. Black cannot move from his king 
row nor from his second row, because there is no square 
vacant diagonally in front. There are four men mova- 
ble in his front row, viz: the men on 9, 10, 11 and 12.. 
Each of the four can be moved diagonalh^ toward the 
right and three of the four can be moved diagonally 
toward the left. His choice then islimited to seven poss- 
ible moves, namely: 9—13, 9—14, 10 — 14, 10 — 15, 11- — 
15) II — 16 and 12 — !&. From these seven he must 
choose his first move and he selects 11 — 15. 

POSSIBIvK CHOICE IN SECOND AND IN EACH SUBSE- 
QUENT MOVE, 

White also has the choice of seven possible moves,, 
viz 21 — ^17, 22 — 17, 22—18, 23— 18, 23— 19, 24 — 19 and 
24-^20. From these White selects the move 22 — 18.. 
Black has but one move at the third play as he is- 
obliged to jump from 15 to 22, removing the man on 18.. 

At the fourth pla^^ White also is obliged to jump from 
25 to 18, removing the man on 22. 

Thus at every move each player should study all the 
possible moves of his opponent, as well as his own. 

The novice should note the difference between ordi- 
nary moves and moves leading to an exchange of pieces. 
He should also be on his guard against foolish or dis- 
astrous moves. If Black should move 10—14 it would 
be foolish for White to reply with 21 — 17 and give a 
man away gratis. Many foolivSh moves are not so trans- 
parent as the one cited. The novice should also watch 
for advantageous moves, to gain a man or an advanta- 
geous position Black opens with 9 — 13, and White 



13 

replies with 23 — 18. Then 6-9 and 21 — 17, follow and 
Black quickly vSees that 9 — 14, 18 — 9 and 5 — 21, gain a 
man. 

This play is very simple but it illustrates the possibili- 
ties in more complicated play. Good players seldom 
fall into traps, and the player's main dependance must 
be in ordinary moves which gain but little apparent 
present advantage, but which are all carefully planned 
to secure some future advantage. 

We return to the game of which the first four moves 
were selected above. The game and the following one 
are copied from the Boston Globe by permission. The 
game is a "Single Corner" played by Wright of Boston 
and Dr. Holden of Paris, Me. Wright playing the first 
side. For the assistance of the learner, the moves are 
numbered in the first column, the number of possible 
moves from which to select is found in the second 
column, and the moves actually selected by the players 
are found in the third column: 



I 


7 


11-15. 


19 


8 


11-16, 


37 


7 


7-11 


2 


7 


22-l8,- 


20 


8 


22-17, 


38 


6 


32-27 


3 


I 


15-22, 


21 


8 


2- 6,. 


39 


7 


11-15 


4 


I 


25-18,. 


22 


I 


17-10, 


40 


6 


28-24 


5 


7- 


8-II,. 


23 


I 


6-22, 


41 


7 


14-18 


6 


9 


29-25 


24 


I 


26-17, 


42 


I 


23-14 


7 


9 


4- 8, 


25 


7 


8-11, 


43 


5 


16-19 


8 


7 


25-22, 


■26 


10 


17-13. 


44 


5 


14-10 


9 


7 


12-16, 


27 


7 


9-14. 


45 


I 


19-28 


10 


8 


24-19, 


28 


II 


31-26, 


46 


6 


10- 6 


II 


7 


16-20, 


29 


9 


11-15. 


47 


6 


28-32 


12 


9 


19-15- 


30 


9 


26-22, 


48 


6 


27-23 


13 


I 


10-19, 


31 


II 


15-18, 


49 


7 


32-27 


14 


I 


23-16, 


32 


I 


22-15. 








15 


7 


6-10, 


33 


9 


5- 9. 








16 


10 


16-12, 


34 


I 


13- 6, 


Wright wins. 


17 


9 


10-14, 


35 


I 


1-26, 








18 


8 


27-23, 


36 


I 


30-23. 









14 

The following "Double Corner'" game was played be- 
tween Mr. Bugbee and Mr. Reed, at the rooms of the 
New England Checker Club in Boston. Bugbee had 
the first move. 



I 


7 


9-14. 


21 


2 


9-13, 


41 


7 


11-15 


2 


7 


24-20, 


22 


10 


21-17, 


42 


7 


12- 8 


3 


8 


5- 9. 


23 


9 


18-23, 


43 


7 


15-18 


4 


8 


27-24- 


24 


II 


25-22, 


44 


8 


8- 3 


5 


8 


ii-i5» 


25 


9 


H-15, 


45 


8 


24-27 


6 


9 


22-1 8, 


26 


10 


31-26, 


46 


I 


32-23 


7 


I 


15-22, 


27 


I 


15-24. 


47 


I 


18-27 


8 


I 


25-18, 


28 


2 


26-19, 


48 


5 


30-26 


9 


7 


12-16, 


29 


7 


7-11. 


49 


6 


27-31 


lO 


I 


20-11, 


30 


8 


22-18, 


50 


5 


26-23 


II 


I 


8-25, 


31 


10 


2- 7, 


51 


6 


31-26 


12 


I 


26-17, 


32 


9 


18-14, 


52 


5 


23-19 


13 


7 


4- 8. 


33 


7 


3- 8, 


53 


6 


6- 9 


14 


10 


24-19, 


34 


7 


19-16, 


54 


I 


13- 6 


15 


7 


8-11, 


35 


I 


11-20, 


55 


5 


26-22 


16 


II 


17-13. 


36 


I 


28-19, 


56 


7 


17-13 


17 


7 


I- 5, 


37 


7 


20-24, 


57 


I 


10-17 


18 


10 


29-25, 


38 


8 


19-16, 


58 


I 


3-10 


19 


6 


14-18, 


39 


8 


8-11, 








20 


I 


23-14, 


40 


7 


16-12, 


Reed wins. 



Can any young players detect any errors in the num- 
ber of possible moves given in either of the above 
games? 

When these two games have been studied move by 
move and the number of possible moves in each pla}^ 
determined, then the player can profitably take up new 
games, placing the number of possible moves against 
each move as above. The study of a dozen games in 
that manner when alone is of more benefit to the begin- 
ner than many months of random practice, and will give 
a much better general knowledge of the nature and 
resources of the game. 



15 

Having learned the science the player should never 
allow himself to engage in a single game without using 
that science to assist him in attaining the art of 
checker playing. 

So far the game of checkers has been treated as a 
whole, but there are many different styles, or lines of 
playing and that fact brings us to the subject of open- 



OPENINGS EXPLAINED, 

An opening is a move, or series of moves, usually not 
more than six in number, leading to some recognized 
line of play. 

Openings are sometimes named for the cities w^here 
they originated, or where they have been popular, as 
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Buffalo, Boston, Paisley 
and Dundee. They are sometimes named from the 
peculiarities of some of the moves, as Single Corner, 
Double Corner, New Thirteenth and Cross. Some of 
the openings take their names from persons with 
whom they have been favorites, as Maid of the 
Mill, Doctor, Laird and Lady, and Ayershire Lassie, 
while some of the names are more or less fanciful, as 
Switcher, (side-tracker,) Dyke, (Scotch for stone fence,) 
Whilter, (Scotch for confusion,) and Will of the Wisp, 
(Marsh gas, or the Ignis Fatuus.) 

There are about thirty openings in the most common 
use, but several others are recognized and used, more 
or less. 

The souter is sometimes spelled ''suter," Boston 
Cross is similar to the Waterloo, Alma to Alma Doctor, 
Doctor to Black Doctor, and New Bristol to Bristol 
Cross. 

When the early moves of a game do not follow some 
recognized opening it is classed as "irregular." 

It was a serious question whether to tabulate the most 
commonly used openings and the least commonly used 



i6 

openings in a single table, or to make two seperate ta- 
bles, but as an exact seperation was not possible, and 
the symmetry of the tabulation would be broken up by 
making two seperate tables it was decided to make but 
a single table. 

It is not pretended that ALiy the rare or obselete open- 
ings have been found and tabulated, but the table con- 
tains enough for all practical purposes. 

THK RATIONALE OF TABULATION. 

We have seen that any one of seven first moves is 
possible, and each opening must necessarily begin with 
one of those seven moves. 

This divides all possible openings into seven groups 
and makes them easy to memorize. As each of these 
seven first moves may have any one of seven replies, 
there are 49 possible openings of two moves each. If 
each opening should consist of six different moves, then 
more than one hundred thousand openings would be . 
possible. 

Many of these possible openings would be so disadvan- 
tageous or disastrous that they would be rejected at 
sight even by an indifferent player. Such openings are 
not recognized by good players. 

It is not profitable for the amateur to seek shipwreck 
upon unknown seas outside the recognized openings 
which are the outgrowth of centuries of practice and 
experience. 

The groups, based upon the first moves are the 9 — 13, 
9 — 14, 10 — 14, TO— 1-5, II — 15, II — 16, and 12-16 
groups. 

THE 9.13 OPENINGS. 

This group consists of the Edinburgh and the New 
Thirteenth. They are said to have but a single move 
each in the opening, but the difference in play begins at 
the third move. 



I? 

THE 9.14 OPENINGS. 

The Double Corner Dyke is not much used in this 
country and the Double Corner is the principal represen- 
tative of the group. 

THE 10-14 OPENINGS. 

This group consists of the Denny and the New Four- 
teenth . 

THE 10-15 OPENINGS. 

The Kelso openings in this group are more used in 
the United Kingdom than in the United States. 

THE II-15 OPENINGS. 

There are more openings recognized in this group 
than in all the other groups combined. It would be 
extremely difficult to memorize them without the aid of 
comparative tables. In the tables, the 11-15 group is 
divided into seven sub-groups by the second moves and 
can be easily memorized by these sub-groups, viz., the 
21-17, 22-17, 22-18, 23-18, 23-19, 24-19 and 24-20. In the 
tables the sub-groups are not seperated by spaces, but 
by arrangement only. 

THE II-16 OPENINGS. 

The openings of this group have been very popular 
in Scotland. 

THE 12-16 OPENINGS. 

The three openings of this group complete the list of 
openings. 

MEMORIZING NAMES OF GROUPS. 

To MEMORIZE THE NAMES of Openings in each group; 
write the names of all the groups and sub-groups, each 
on the face of a seperate card, as group 10-14 or sub- 
group 23-18, and on the back of the card write the 
number and names of all the openings of the group or 



i8 

sub-group named on the face. Then shufHe the cards and 
hold one card face toward you, and repeat the number 
and names of the openings on the back, looking only 
when you cannot recall them. 

Copying anything which is to be memorized assists to 
fix in memory the matter copied. 

The figure before each opening indicates the number 
of moves of which the opening consists. The play is 
continued to the sixth move in the line of the trunk 
game. Each sub-group is underscored. 



19 
TABLES FOR MEMORIZING THE OPENINGS 
OF THE GAMES OF CHECKERS. 





THE 


9-13 


OPENINGS. 








1 Edinburgh, 




9-13 


22-18 


10-15 


25-22 


5- 9 


29-22 


1 New Thirteenth, 




9-13 


22-18 


11-16 


18-14 


10-17 


21-14 




THK 


9-14 


OPENINGS. 








4 Double Corner Dyk( 


e, 


9-14 


22-17 


11-16 


25-22 


16-19 


23 16 


1 Double Corner, 




9-14 


22-18 


5- 9 


25-22 


11-16 


24-19 




THE 


10-14 


OPENINGS. 








1 Denny, 




10-14 


22-17 


7-10 


17-13 


3- 7 


25-22 


1 New Fourteenth, 




1014 


22-18 


11-16 


26-22 


8-11 


24-19 




THE 


10-15 


OPENINGS. 








1 Kelso, 




10-15 


21-17 


11-16 


17-13 


8-11 


22-18 


1 New Fifteenth, 




10-15 


21-17 


15.18 


23-14 


9-18 


22-15 


2 Kelso Exchange, 




10-15 


22-18 


15-22 


25-18 


11-15 


18-11 


2 Kelso Cross, 




10-15 


23-18 


12-16 


21-17 


16-20 


17-13 




THE 


II-I5 


OPENINGS. 








2 Swit''.her, 




11-15 


21-17 


9-13 


25-21 


8-11 


17-14 


5 Maid of the Mill, 




11-15 


22 17 


8-11 


17-13 


15-18 


23-14 


4 White Dyke, 




11-15 


22-17 


8 11 


17-14 


10-17 


21-14 


Boston, 




11-15 


22-17 


9-13 


17-14 


10-17 


21-14 


4 Wagram, 




11-15 


22-17 


9-13 


24-20 


13-22 


25-11 


3 Douglas, 




11-15 


22-17 


9-14 


25-22 


8-11 


17-13 


5 Dyke, 




11-15 


22-17 


15-19 


24-15 


10-19 


23-16 


2 Single Corner, 




1115 


22-18 


15-22 


25-18 


12-16 


18-J4 


. Boston Cross, 
Waterloo, 




11-15 


23-18 


8-11 


^ 18-14 


9-18 


24-19 


2 Cross, 




11-15 


23-18 


8-11 


26-23 


10-14 


30-26 


3 Cross Choice, 




11-15 


23-18 


9-14 


IS- 9 


5-14 


22-17 


- Alma, ) 
Alma Doctor, ) 




11-15 


23-19 


8-11 


22-17 


3- 8 


25-22 


5 Old Fouiteenth, 




11-15 


23-19 


8-11 


22-17 


4- 8 


17-13 


Doctor, 
Black Doctor, 




11-15 


23-19 


8-11 


22-17 


9-13 


17-14 


6 Laird and Lady, 




11-15 


23-19 


8-11 


22-17 


9-13 


17-14 


Buffalo, 




11-15 


23-19 


8-11 


22-17 


9-14 


25-22 


5 Glasgow, 




11-15 


23-19 


8-11 


22-17 


11-16 


24-20 


5 Centre, 




11-15 


23-19 


,8-11 


?2-17 


15-18 


19-15 


4 Boston Centre, 




11-15 


23-19 


8-11 


22-17 


15-18 


24-20 


Nailor, 




11-15 


23-19 


8-11 


26-23 


4- 8 


22-17 


3 Will of the Wisp, 




11-15 


23-19 


9-13 


22-18 


15-22 


25-18 


5 Fife, 




11-15 


23-19 


9-14 


22-17 


5-9 


26-23 


5 Souter or Suter, 




11-15 


23-19 


9-14 


2217 


6- 9 


17-13 


5 Whilter, 




11-15 


23-19 


9-14 


22-17 


7-11 


25-22 


Glasgow Whilter, 




11-15 


23-19 


9-14 


22-17 


8-11 


25-22 


4 Defiance, 




11-15 


23-19 


9-14 


27-23 


8-11 


22-18 


2 Second Doubla Corner, 


11-15 


24-19 


15-24 


28-19 


8-il 


22-18 


4 Ayershire Lassie, 




11-15 


24-20 


8-11 


28-24 


4- 8 


23-19 



20 
THE II-16 OPENINGS. 







(Tables Continued.) 










3 


Bristol, 22-18 line, 


11-16 


22-18 


8-11 


18-14 


10-17 


21-14 




White Doctor, 


11-16 


22-18 


10-14 


25-22 


8-11 


24-20 


2 


New Bristol, ^ 
Bristol Cross, ) 


11-16 


23-18 


16-19 


24-15 


10-19 


18-15 


2 


Paisley, 


11-16 


24-19 


8-11 


22-18 


10-14 


25-22 


3 


Bristol, 24-20 line. 


11-16 


24-20 


16-19 


23-16 


12-19 


22.18 






THE 12-16 


OPENINGS. 










? 


12-16 ' 


24-19 


16-20 


22-18 


10-14 


25-22 


1 


Dundee, 


12-16 


24-20 


8-12 


22-18 


16-19 


23-16 


1 


New Sixteenth, 


12-16 


24-20 


8-12 


28-24 


3- 8 


24-19 



The first opening of the 12-16 group has been pub- 
lished as Edinburgh, but improperly as it seems to me. 
It may be classed as irregular or questionable. 

To memorize the openings; select one group or 
sub-group and play on the board by number re- 
peatedly each of the openings therein, till they 
are as familiar, without the board as with it. 
Play alternately the first side and the second side 
till the sides are equally familiar to you. Then 
select another section and do likewise, constant- 
i,Y REVIEWING. What you learn, learn thoroughly and 
leave all the rest untouched till its proper turn, other- 
wise you will get a smattering of all and be proficient in 
none. 

TRUNK GAMES AND VARIATIONS. 

A trunk game is a line of sound play, extending from 
the opening to a draw or win. A trunk game is usual- 
ly arranged by one or more experts, and is the outgrowth 
of centuries of experience and practice. 

A Variation is a deviation from the trunk, or from 
another variation by either player, at any move of the 
game. Thousands of variations have been published on 
some of the games. No human life is long enough to 
write out all the possible variations of a single game. 

The first few moves of the Paisley trunk game and 
three of its variations, are copied below for illustration. 



21 



Trunk Game, 


Instead of 26-22 


Instead of I 


6-20 


Instead of 


II-16 


play (Var. i) 


play (Var. 


.2) 


play (Vai 


24-19 


25-22 


7-10 




22-17 


8-II 


16-20 


22-17 




4- 8 


22-18 


30-25 


16-20 




17-10 


10-14 


7-10 


30-26 




6-24 


26-22-1 


28-24 


11-16 




28-19 


16-20-2 


3- 7 


26-22 




7-10 


30-26 


22-17 


9-13 




26-22 


11-16 


11-15 


18- 9 




10-14 


28-24-3 


etc. etc. 


etc. 




etc. 



FIGURES vSIGNS AND LKTTERS. 

A figure placed before or after any move in a trunk 
game or variation indicates the variation which is to be 
substituted at that point as above. 

Signs and letters are used for various purposes, each 
author explaining his own method of using them. 

I.ATBR STUDIES. 

Having now explained moves, openings, trunk 
games and variations, it remains only to indicate a 
course of study and practice which may, with proper 
application lead to expert playing. 

The player should select some trunk game, and learn 
it by heart with all its variations. Some experts have 
advised to select one trunk game for attack and another 
for defense while learning. When one is thoroughly 
mastered, another can be selected and learned. 

Experts have a better knowledge of openings, trunk 
games and variations than amateurs, simply because 
they have memorized them more carefully. Otherwise 
an expert is in no way different from an ordinary player. 
He must reason, plan, look ahead, investigate all his 
own and his opponent's possible moves and use his best 
judgement precisely the same as other mortals. There 
is something in the natural gift, but the ability to play 
well is largely an acquired ability. 



22 

To advance the beginner, perhaps no work us better 
than Hill's Manual, with its Elementary Positions, King 
Endings, Consultation Games, Traps and Problems. 

The trunk game and variations of almost any one of 
the common openings can be procured for ten cents. 

Books of problems and match games, played by cham- 
pions and experts must not be overlooked. More pre- 
tentious and expensive books are found advertised on 
the cover. 

Several of the large newspapers have a checker col- 
umn, to keep the amateur in touch with the checker 
playing world. 

There are several periodicals devoted entirely to 
checkers, in which the latest successes of skillful play- 
ers are constantly made available to the learner. Per- 
sistent play with the shrewdest, trickiest, old bull dog 
of a player you can find will be a great help to you, but 
with all these, nothing but your own brains and labor 
can transform you from a NoviCK to an Expert. 

NOTE. — The Editor wishes to express his thanks to 
Lyman M. Stearns, Editor of the North American 
Checker Board for valuable hints and suggestions. 



LOOK 



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Or any other articles you may choose will be given as 
prizes to agents and canvassers. 

If you do not succeed in getting the largest prizes, you 
may select any smaller ones to which your success en- 
titles you. If you prefer you can draw commutation 
in cash, or you can have regular and permanent employ- 
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For particulars write to, 

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